When it comes to health, it’s good to trust your gut.
And some generations trust their guts enough to share all the details.
According to one medical expert, Baby Boomers and Gen X can learn a lot from younger people about stomach health — especially in regards to awkward topics, like problems on the porcelain throne.
Dr. Wendi LeBrett (@socalgastrodoc), a gastroenterologist and founding partner and medical advisor of Norms, told The Post that a lot of her middle age and senior patients would do well to take cues from their kids or grandkids when they visit the doctor.
“I find younger patients (Gen Z and Millennials) are more comfortable sharing their gut health issues and seeking care for them — which is a good thing!” she said. “My younger patients also are more engaged in learning about their gut health.”
And LeBrett’s not the only one noticing this potty talk trend.
According to a survey of more than 2,000 participants conducted by Health.com, Gen Z and Millennials are the generations bringing up gut health issues with their doctors.
Millennials in particular overwhelmingly candid about their problems, with 55% discussing bathroom topics with their doctors.
But LeBrett has also seen hesitancy from all patients, but especially older patients.
“There is still a stigma about talking about gut health issues such as poop and hemorrhoids for patients of all ages,” she said. “But definitely I notice less embarrassment or shyness among my younger patients.”
This stigma surrounding talking about what happens in the bathroom could lead to serious gastrointestinal problems in older generations, according to LeBrett.
“Unfortunately, I have a lot of Gen X and Boomer patients who suffer from GI issues for many years but have never felt comfortable discussing with their doctor or have felt ignored by their doctor,” she said.
She’s doing what she can to push through that discomfort, tackling awkward topics on her own social media accounts and Norms’ YouTube page.
The Health survey also found that those between the ages of 29 and 44 were more likely to take supplements and change their diets to address gut issues.
Again, Millennials are the top buyers of supplements designed to boost their digestion, with 23% leading probiotic sales.
There’s certainly been a growing interest in gut health supplements like probiotics and prebiotics, with the digestive health products market seeing an 8% increase.
While Millennials and Gen-Zers are leading the charge on discussing toilet habits, LeBrett hopes more patients feel confident talking about what happens in the powder room.
“As a medical community we are getting better are providing more integrative care for gastrointestinal issues such as IBS and related conditions,” she said. “My hope is that patients feel more comfortable seeking care for this.”
